Load transferring coupling device

ABSTRACT

A coupling device for connecting tractor and trailer units which consists of a pivoted coupling member having associated therewith a pivoted flat member supported in the plane of the coupling member by two inflatable air bags mounted on the tractor. The air bags are connected into the compressed air system of the tractor through a control valve manipulable to change the pressure in the air bags so as to vary the upward thrust on the pivoted flat member and thereby distribute the load in the trailer in a preselected manner over the trailer and tractor axles, thereby greatly improving the riding quality of the tractor and simultaneously correcting any mis-loading of the trailer.

United States Patent [1 1 Paielli LOAD TRANSFERRING COUPLING DEVICE [76]Inventor: Michael F. Paielli, 12360 Roberts,

Taylor, Mich. 48180 [22] Filed: Oct. 4, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 294,977

2,941,818 9/1960 Hubbard 2,996,312 8/1961 Harding.... 280/405 A3,227,470 1/1966 Funk 280/405 A 3,363,914 l/l968 Neel 280/405 A3,494,632 2/1970 Bostrom 280/405 A X Dec. 4, 1973 3,580,609 5/1971Paielli 280/405 A Primary Examiner--Leo Friaglia Att0rneyAdolph G.Martin [5 7 ABSTRACT A coupling device for connecting tractor andtrailer units which consists of a pivoted coupling member havingassociated therewith a pivoted flat member supported in the plane of thecoupling member by two inflatable air bags mounted on the tractor. Theair bags are connected into the compressed air system of the tractorthrough a control valve manipulable to change the pressure in the airbags so as to vary the upward thrust on the pivoted flat member andthereby distribute the load in the trailer in a pre-selected manner overthe trailer and tractor axles, thereby greatly improving the ridingquality of the tractor and simultaneously correcting any mis-loading ofthe trailer.

6 Claims, 10 Drawing figures PATENTEDBEB W5 3,776,573

SHEET 2 UF 2 FIG? I LOAD TRANSFERRING COUPLING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to coupling devices generally forconnecting tractor and trailer units, and more particularly to animprovement over the previously issued patent of the applicant, U.S.Pat. No. 3,580,609, issued May 25, 1971, and entitled Fifth Wheel withLoad- Transferring Device. The relative movement between tractor andtrailer units which occurs during hauling operations produces severestresses in the various components of such coupling devices. Theapplicant, fully cognizant of this situation, has provided a loadtransferring coupling device which will permit a limited amount ofrelative movement between the tractor and trailer frames withoutsubjecting the coupling device to dangerous stresses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention consists of a coupling devicecomprising a coupling member 34 pivotally supported by spaced brackets40 mounted on the frame 12 of the tractor 10. A pivoted flat member 32is supported in the plane of the coupling member 34 by a pair ofinflatable air bags 49 mounted on the tractor 10. The inflatable airbags 49 are connected to the compressed air tanks 18 of the tractor l0,and controlled by a valve 26 manipulable from the cab 22 of the tractor10. In the modification disclosed in FIGS. 7 through 10 of the drawings,the coupling member 34, the flat member 32 and the inflatable air bags49 are all mounted on a longitudinally adjustable lateral plate 56supported by the frame 12 of the tractor 10.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevationview, showing tractor and trailer units 10 and 30 respectively,connected by a coupling device embodying the applicants invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the coupling device detached from thetractor 10, showing structural details of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section view, taken substantially on plane 3-3 inFIG. 2, showing the brackets 40 and the inflatable air bags 49supporting the coupling device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view, showing the inflatable bags 49, and thecontrol valve 26 connected into the pneumatic circuit of the tractor 10.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation view, taken substantially on plane55 in FIG. 2, showing the characteristic shape of the flat member 32.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevation view, similar to FIG. 5, showing amodification of the applicants invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view, showing the lateral plate 56 in afurther modification of the applicants invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view, taken substantially on plane 8-8 in FIG. 7,showing the channel members 58 and the locking pins 62.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged elevation view, similar to FIG. 7, showing anothermodification of the applicants invention.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side elevation view, taken substantially on plane10 10 in FIG. 9, showing the bracket 40 on the lateral plate 56pivotally supporting the coupling device.

CONSTRUCTION For a more detailed description of the invention, referenceis made to the drawings in which numeral 10 designates a tractor havinga frame 12 supported on a steering axle 14 and a pair of drive axles 16.Two compressed air storage tanks l8,supported by the frame 12, areconnected by a tubular conductor 20 to a compressor, not shown, in thecustomary manner.

A cab 22 on the tractor frame 12 has therein a steering column 24supporting a control valve 26 having an operator lever 28, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 4. A coupling device for connecting the tractor 10 to atrailer 30, comprises a flat member 32 and a coupling member 34. Thecoupling member 34, has on the lower side thereof two pairs of dependentlugs 36 pivotally engaged on a transverse pintle 38 supported by twospaced brackets 40 mounted on the frame 12 of the tractor 10.

The coupling member 34 has a central opening therethrough for holdablyreceiving a coupling element or king pin 42 on the trailer 30 forconnecting it to the tractor 10 in the customary manner, as shown inFIG. 1. A lateraly disposed tongue'44 is provided on the forward end ofthe coupling member 34. A rearwardly extending leg 46, on each side ofthe flat member 32, is pivotally attached to the pintle 38, through aresilient bushing 47. A slot 48 is provided on the rear end of the flatmember 32 for receiving the tongue 44 of the coupling member 34.

A pair of vertically disposed inflatable air bags 49, mounted on a crossmember 50 of the frame 12, support the forward end of the flat member32, and hold it in a substantially horizontal position. The pair ofinflatable air bags 49 are connected to the compressed air storage tanks18 through the control valve 26 in the cab 22 of the tractor 10, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 4. A pressure gauge 52, on the instrument panel ofthe cab 22 of the tractor 10, is connected to the control valve 26, asshown in the schematic drawing of FIG. 4, so as to indicate the pressurein the inflatable air bags 49.

The modification of the applicants invention, disclosed in FIG. 6 of thedrawings, differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 in thatthe rearwardly extending legs 46 on the flat member 32 are pivotallyconnected to a separate pintle 54 supported by the spaced brackets 40.All other significant structural features of this modification areidentical to those of the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1 through 5, andpreviously discussed in detail; consequently, they will not again bedescribed.

The modification of the applicants invention, disclosed in FIGS. 7 and 8of the drawings, differs from the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 through 6in that the two spaced brackets 40, supporting the pintles 38 and thepair of inflatable air bags 49, are mounted on a lateral plate 56slidably supported on two spaced inwardly disposed channel members 58mounted on the frame 12 of the tractor 10.

Vertically aligned openings 60, through each end of the inwardlydisposed channel members 58, have therein removable bolts 62 which passthrough spaced openings 64 provided in the plate 56. Cotter pins 66,through the lower end of each bolt 62, secures them in place so as tohold the plate 56 in its assigned position on the tractor 10.

The modification disclosed in FIGS. 9 and of the drawings, differs fromthe embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in that the rearwardly extendinglegs 46 on the flat member 32 are pivotally connected to a separatepintle 54 supported by the spaced brackets 40. All other significantstructural features of this modification are identical to the embodimentdisclosed in FIGS. 7 and 8 and previously discussed in detail;consequently, they will not again be described.

The preceding discussion completes a description of the structuraldetails relating to the applicants invention herein disclosed. However,to facilitate a more thorough and complete understanding of the subjectmatter, a discussion is immediately hereinafter direced to the manner inwhich the coupling device operates, and is used to accomplish itsintended function.

OPERATION In use, the tractor 10 is connected in the customary manner toa trailer 30, which is then loaded and driven to a weighing device. Inoperating the embodiments disclosed in FIGS. 1 through 6 of thedrawings, the operator lever 28 on the control valve 26 is manipulatedso as to inflate the air bags 49 sufficiently to distribute the load inthe desired manner over the tractor and trailer axles.

It is thus possible to comply with the legal requirements relating toload distribution over the steering, drive and trailer axles 14, 16, and70 respectively, without physically shifting the load in the trailer 30.To deflate the air bags 49, when the same are not needed, the

operator lever 28 is positioned so that the air bags 49 discharge to theatmosphere through the control valve 26.

In using the modifications of the applicants invention disclosed inFIGS. 7 through 10 of the drawings, the driver can also shift thecoupling device longitudinally on the tractor 10 to assist indistributing the load over the tractor and trailer axles 14, 16 and 70respectively. This is done by first removing the four bolts 62 from thechannel members 48 to unlock the lateral plate 56.

The lateral plate 56 can then be shifted longitudinally on the tractor10 so as to move the point of attachment for the trailer relative to thesteering and drive axles 14 and 16 respectively. The four bolts 62 arethen reinserted through the channel members 58 and the lateral plate 56thereby again locking the latter in its assigned position on the tractor10.

Based upon the foregoing discussion, the applicant is of the opinionthat his invention has fulfilled a long-felt need in the field ofcoupling devices for tractor and trailer units, and that he hasaccordingly made a valuable and significant contribution to the relatedart. However, while the invention was described with reference to thestructural details of a limited number of embodiments, it will beappreciated by those familiar with the art that the principles involvedare susceptible of numerous other practical adaptations.

I therefore claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A load transferring coupling device for connecting tractor andtrailer units, wherein the tractor unit has a frame supported onsteering and drive axles and the trailer unit has at least one axle anda coupling element, such coupling device comprising a coupling memberfor holdably engaging the coupling element on the trailer, a flat memberhaving therein a rearwardly disposed slot, a tongue on the forward endof the coupling member engaged in the slot so as to prevent any appreciable relative lateral movement between the coupling member and theflat member, pivotal means on the tractor supporting the coupling memberand the flat member, at least one inflatable air bag on the tractor forexerting an upward thrust on the flat member, and means for controllablyinflating the air bag so as to distribute the load in the trailer in apre-selected manner over the steering, drive and trailer axles.

2. The load transferring coupling device of claim 1 in which the pivotalmeans comprises spaced brackets mounted on the frame of the tractor, anda transverse laterally disposed pintle supported by the brackets andpivotally attached to the coupling member and the flat member.

3. The load transferring coupling device of claim 1 in which the pivotalmeans comprises spaced brackets mounted on the frame of the tractor, anda pair of transverse laterally disposed pintles supported by the spacedbrackets, one of such pintles being pivotally attached to the couplingmember, and the other of such pintles being pivotally attached to theflat member.

4. The load transferring coupling device of claim 1, having in additionthereto: a lateral plate adjustably mounted on the frame of the tractor,such lateral plate supporting the pivotal means so that the couplingmember and the flat member can be simultaneously shifted longitudinallyon the tractor so as to assist in distributing the load in the trailerover the tractor and trailer axles.

5. The load transferring coupling device of claim 4 in which the pivotalmeans comprises spaced brackets mounted on the lateral plate, and atransverse laterally disposed pintle supported by the spaced bracketsand pivotally attached to the coupling member and the flat member.

6. The load transferring coupling device of claim 4 in which the pivotalmeans comprises spaced brackets mounted on the lateral plate, and a pairof transverse laterally disposed pintles supported by the spacedbrackets, one of such pintles being pivotally attached to the couplingmember, and the other of such pintles being pivotally attached to theflat member.

1. A load transferring coupling device for connecting tractor andtrailer units, wherein the tractor unit has a frame supported onsteering and drive axles and the trailer unit has at least one axle anda coupling element, such coupling device comprising a coupling memberfor holdably engaging the coupling element on the trailer, a flat memberhaving therein a rearwardly disposed slot, a tongue on the forward endof the coupling member engaged in the slot so as to prevent anyappreciable relative lateral movement between the coupling member andthe flat member, pivotal means on the tractor supporting the couplingmember and the flat member, at least one inflatable air bag on thetractor for exerting an upward thrust on the flat member, and means forcontrollably inflating the air bag so as to distribute the load in thetrailer in a pre-selected manner over the steering, drive and traileraxles.
 2. The load transferring coupling device of claim 1 in which thepivotal means comprises spaced brackets mounted on the frame of thetractor, and a transverse laterally disposed pintle supported by thebrackets and pivotally attached to the coupling member and the flatmember.
 3. The load transferring coupling device of claim 1 in which thepivotal means comprises spaced brackets mounted on the frame of thetractor, and a pair of transverse laTerally disposed pintles supportedby the spaced brackets, one of such pintles being pivotally attached tothe coupling member, and the other of such pintles being pivotallyattached to the flat member.
 4. The load transferring coupling device ofclaim 1, having in addition thereto: a lateral plate adjustably mountedon the frame of the tractor, such lateral plate supporting the pivotalmeans so that the coupling member and the flat member can besimultaneously shifted longitudinally on the tractor so as to assist indistributing the load in the trailer over the tractor and trailer axles.5. The load transferring coupling device of claim 4 in which the pivotalmeans comprises spaced brackets mounted on the lateral plate, and atransverse laterally disposed pintle supported by the spaced bracketsand pivotally attached to the coupling member and the flat member. 6.The load transferring coupling device of claim 4 in which the pivotalmeans comprises spaced brackets mounted on the lateral plate, and a pairof transverse laterally disposed pintles supported by the spacedbrackets, one of such pintles being pivotally attached to the couplingmember, and the other of such pintles being pivotally attached to theflat member.